Jonathan Toews is known across the NHL for his deft hands. He isn’t known for throwing them, however. Toews dropped the gloves in a fight with James Neal in Chicago’s loss to the Nashville Predators on Friday. The Blackhawks and Predators were trading goals in the first period, however, they decided to trade something else in the second frame.

Toews and Neal’s brouhaha followed a fight between former Predator Jordin Tootoo and current Predator Anthony Bitetto that saw Bitetto leave with an undisclosed injury after his head and back slammed against the ice after he and Tootoo fell.

The two got together behind the play after Neal gave Toews a few light jabs. Toews, not letting his captaincy get challenged by an opposing player, dropped the mitts and went at it with Neal. The fight first started with Neal landing blow after blow, as the fight wore on, Toews started landing his fair share, until he and Neal were separated by the officials.

Both were then escorted to the penalty box to serve their five minute majors, with no supplemental penalties being assessed to either of the combatants. While the Blackhawks would go on to lose this particular game 3-2, the Blackhawks would take the second game on Saturday in Chicago.

While Toews and Neal emerged from their fight with nothing more than hurt pride, Anthony Bitetto wasn’t as fortunate

Bitetto left the ice in visible discomfort and did not return to the game. As per the Nashville Predators Twitter account (@PredsNHL) , Anthony Bitetto, is expected to miss “several weeks” with an upper body injury. Also injured was Predators left winger Miikka Salomaki, who is listed as out for six to eight weeks with a hand injury.

We here at Talking Baws hope that Bitetto and Salomaki make full recoveries and can get back on the ice as soon as possible.